Delivery windows define the timeframe in which a product ships. When buyers select delivery windows for their orders, their options are based on the brand's configurations and product availability.
Select your role below to learn more about delivery windows as it pertains to you.
Brands manage product availability and delivery windows.
- Product availability
- Configure length of delivery windows
- Manage delivery windows (old)
- Manage delivery windows (new)
- Example scenarios
- Order export templates
Product availability
Manage product availability with the Prebook, immediate, and future availability overview article.
- Prebook denotes styles not yet in production and allows for unlimited future bookings.
- Immediate indicates current stock on hand.
- Future ties to specific dates of future arrivals or replenishments. Users can't select delivery windows prior to a product's availability date.
Note: Products may offer only one availability option (example: prebook) or a mix of two or three.
Configure length of delivery windows
From the left navigation, go to Settings > Brand Admin > Settings > Delivery Windows.
Enter values for the length of delivery windows and Save.
- Default Length of Ship Window: Set the default number of days for your ship windows. For example, if you choose 30 days and the ship start for a product is May 1, the ship end will default to May 31.
- Minimum Length of Ship Window: Set a minimum number of days that the ship window can be to give you enough time to ship your items. For example, if your minimum is 10 days and the ship start is May 1, then the earliest ship end that a user can choose is May 11.
Note: The Minimum Length of Ship Window should be less than or equal to the Default Length of Ship Window.
Manage delivery windows (old)
Managing predefined delivery windows is shifting from a Brand Admin tool to an inventory data upload. For details on the new process, go to this section: Manage delivery windows (new). If your portal still shows the Manage Your Delivery Windows option in Brand Admin, you can continue using it for now, but note that it will be removed in a future release.
Expand for details on the Manage Your Delivery Windows option in Brand Admin
From the left navigation, go to Settings > Brand Admin > Settings > Delivery Windows.
For brands that have the Manage your Delivery Windows section, choose Add One or Add 12 Months. If you select Add 12 Months, NuORDER automatically sets up windows for the next 12 calendar months. You can edit or remove (X icon) any of these predefined delivery windows.
Enter a Start date, End date, and Display Name for each predefined delivery window.
The Display Name shows when adding products to the cart (see below example) or in the Working Order.
You have the option to toggle on Pre-book for pre-defined delivery windows. This means that reps and buyers can place orders for any quantity and inventory will not be deducted for these orders.
If Pre-book is toggled on, you can choose to enter a Pre-Book Expiration by selecting that field and choosing a date. This is the last date that you accept prebook orders for a delivery window. After this date passes, the delivery window transitions to a normal delivery window and orders will be placed against available inventory (if you're tracking inventory).
Additional considerations
Delivery windows that end in less days than the minimum delivery window will not be available for ordering. For example, if today is May 25 and your minimum delivery window is 10 days, the May 1 - May 31 window would not be available.
If you place an order on August 10 for the Aug 1-31 delivery window, the ship dates on the order will show as Aug 10-31. This is because many ERPs can't handle dates prior to the current date.
Manage delivery windows (new)
This new process is rolling out in phases. For early access, contact our Support team. If you already have access, follow these steps.
Set a date range for your inventory’s availability with the Inventory Data template. For details, watch this video or follow the below steps.
To download a template with your inventory data, go to Settings > Brand Admin > Data > Inventory Data.
Download options
Consider the following when making your selections for the inventory data download:
- Filters: Use filters (Season, Color, or Category) to refine the list of products.
- Format: Both Vertical and Horizontal formats are available. Select the Vertical format if you plan to do an inventory upload.
- Type: Choose XLSX or CSV file format.
- Include data: Select one or more product identifier combinations: Style / Season / Color, Brand ID, or UPC.
Note: If you'd rather work from a blank template, go to Download: Inventory data template (with replenishment delivery windows).
Update the spreadsheet
Use these columns to define the delivery window:
- PERIOD START: Enter the earliest ship date. For immediate availability, enter today’s date or leave it blank.
- PERIOD END: Enter the cutoff date for the product’s availability. If you don’t want an end date, leave it blank.
- PREBOOK: Enter Y for prebook or N if not.
When adding inventory or delivery windows to new or existing products, use one or a mix of the following column combination options as the product identifier:
- Option 1: STYLE NUMBER, SEASON, COLOR, and SIZE
- Option 2: BRAND ID and SIZE
- Option 3: UPC
Note: The below example uses a mix of these combination options.
In NuORDER, go to Settings > Brand Admin > Data > Inventory Data to upload your updated file.
After the upload, the delivery windows and the availability status (Immediate, Future, or Prebook) appear on the Product Details page. The below example shows delivery windows based on the uploaded data, today’s date (12/13/2024), and the Default Length of Ship Window (30 days).
Delivery windows also appear as options in the Working Order when selecting a product’s delivery.
Example scenarios
Brand Admin configurations and the uploaded PERIOD START and PERIOD END dates determine the delivery windows and the buyer’s delivery date range options.
In the below example scenarios, today’s date is 01/01/2025 and the brand chose the following in Settings > Brand Admin > Settings > Delivery Windows:
- Default Length of Ship Window: 30
- Minimum Length of Ship Window: 7
Brand's inventory upload | Displayed delivery window | Buyer's options |
---|---|---|
PERIOD START: empty PERIOD END: empty |
01/01/2025 - 01/31/2025 The product’s default delivery window starts today and ends after thirty days. |
The buyer can choose any date range that’s at least seven days long. The buyer isn’t limited to selecting dates within the default range of 01/01/2025 to 01/31/2025. |
PERIOD START: 02/15/2025 PERIOD END: empty |
02/15/2025 - 03/16/2025 The product’s delivery window starts on the provided PERIOD START date and ends thirty days later. |
The buyer can choose any date range from 02/15/2025 to 03/16/2025 that’s at least seven days long. |
PERIOD START: empty or PERIOD START: before today |
01/01/2025 - 03/31/2025 The product’s delivery window starts today and ends on the provided PERIOD END date. |
The buyer can choose any date range from 01/01/2025 to 03/31/2025 that’s at least seven days long. |
PERIOD START: 02/15/2025 PERIOD END: 03/31/2025
|
02/15/2025 - 03/31/2025 The product’s delivery window starts on the provided PERIOD START date and ends on the provided PERIOD END date. |
The buyer can choose any date range from 02/15/2025 to 03/31/2025 that’s at least seven days long. |
Order export templates
Brands can offer the replenishment Period Start and Period End dates as delivery windows in an Order Export Template by using the template format: Vertical w/ Replenishments for Deliveries. Follow the steps provided in Configure order export templates.
Buyers can choose available delivery windows from the Product Details page and the Working Order.
Product Details page
When you add a product to your cart from the Product Details page, enter quantities for each size within a delivery window. To add a delivery window, select Add Delivery and choose from the options provided by the brand (a date range or Pre-book).
Tip: If available, use the Inventory Arriving Table to review Total units or Units arriving.
Adjust a delivery window by selecting the arrow next to the range and choosing new start and end dates within the brand's provided date range. The brand may require a minimum number of days for a delivery window.
Example: The brand requires a minimum delivery window of 10 days and offers two default options: 12/11/2024 to 02/02/2025 and 03/01/2025 to 12/12/2025. Adjustments must stay within one of these windows and meet the 10-day minimum.
When you’re done, Save.
The Working Order
Within the Working Order's Products tab, use the options to the right of each product to specify the delivery type (example: prebook) and a delivery window date range. You can also choose to review the order Grouped by: Delivery and click through each window. Learn more with Working Order overview.
If you select a delivery range for one product, you can apply it to other products in your cart by selecting Multiple Products. Use the arrow to choose all products in the order or products in a specific delivery window, then select Apply. Each product must meet the delivery window requirements set by the brand.
If the brand offers an Order Export Template that's configured for replenishments, then you can use a spreadsheet to enter quantities for each replenishment date. If a product size doesn't have scheduled inventory for a date, then that cell is gray and inactive.